Karl Opfermann (1891 - 1960) - photo 1

Karl Opfermann

Karl Opfermann, a German sculptor and graphic artist born in 1891 in Rødding (now Denmark), carved a niche for himself in the realms of art and culture. His initial training as an ornament creator led him to the influential circles of Hamburg and Berlin, where he honed his artistic skills under the guidance of Heinz Wedding, Fritz Heit, and Richard Luksch. Opfermann's artistic journey was deeply intertwined with notable groups like the "Hamburgische Sezession" and the "Novembergruppe" in Berlin, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the local sculptural landscape from 1919 to 1933.

Tragically, Karl Opfermann's works became a target during the "Entartete Kunst" (Degenerate Art) action in 1937 by the Nazis, leading to their removal and destruction from German museums. A significant portion of his oeuvre was further lost in a bombing in 1943, which destroyed his studio in Hamburg. Despite these challenges, Opfermann's legacy persists, with efforts to reconstruct his life and works focusing on the years before 1943, the period before the destruction wrought by the Nazis and World War II.

Karl Opfermann's artistic expression was rooted in German Expressionism, a movement born out of resistance and reaction, emphasizing emotion and individual experience. His works, spanning various mediums including wood, stone, and ceramics, reflect a profound emotional depth and a unique exploration of human form and expression.

For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Karl Opfermann's work offers a compelling glimpse into the turbulent yet artistically rich period of early 20th-century Germany. His sculptures and graphic art, held in various collections throughout Germany, including Hamburg and Flensburg, stand as a testament to his enduring impact on German Expressionism.

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Date and place of birt:28 september 1891, Røddinge, Denmark
Date and place of death:7 march 1960, Ahrensburg, Germany
Nationality:Germany, Denmark
Period of activity: XX century
Specialization:Artist, Ceramist, Portraitist, Sculptor, Wood carver
Art school / group:Hamburg Secession
Genre:Portrait sculpture, Portrait
Art style:Art Nouveau, Expressionism, German Expressionism
Technique:Wood carving
Medium:Ceramic, Clay, Wood, Stone

Creators Germany

Charline von Heyl (1960)
Charline von Heyl
1960
Hedwig Marquardt (1884 - 1969)
Hedwig Marquardt
1884 - 1969
Julius Schoppe (1795 - 1868)
Julius Schoppe
1795 - 1868
Toni Stadler II (1888 - 1982)
Toni Stadler II
1888 - 1982
Marco Breuer (1966)
Marco Breuer
1966
Ulf Petermann (1950)
Ulf Petermann
1950
Gudrun Kemsa (1961)
Gudrun Kemsa
1961
Emil Preetorius (1883 - 1973)
Emil Preetorius
1883 - 1973
Moritz Baumgartl (1934 - 2024)
Moritz Baumgartl
1934 - 2024
Josef Dorls (1869 - 1945)
Josef Dorls
1869 - 1945
Paul Thiem (1858 - 1922)
Paul Thiem
1858 - 1922
Yitzhak Danziger (1916 - 1977)
Yitzhak Danziger
1916 - 1977
Georg Muche (1895 - 1987)
Georg Muche
1895 - 1987
Otto Schubert (1892 - 1970)
Otto Schubert
1892 - 1970
František Kyncl (1934 - 2011)
František Kyncl
1934 - 2011
Moritz Daniel Oppenheim (1800 - 1882)
Moritz Daniel Oppenheim
1800 - 1882

Creators Art Nouveau

Richard Gerstl (1883 - 1908)
Richard Gerstl
1883 - 1908
Max Weber (1881 - 1961)
Max Weber
1881 - 1961
Carlo Erba (1884 - 1917)
Carlo Erba
1884 - 1917
Richard Strauss (1864 - 1949)
Richard Strauss
1864 - 1949
Lodovico Barbiano di Belgiojoso (1909 - 2004)
Lodovico Barbiano di Belgiojoso
1909 - 2004
Arie Smit (1916 - 2016)
Arie Smit
1916 - 2016
Paul Poiret (1879 - 1944)
Paul Poiret
1879 - 1944
Wolfgang G. Bühler (1957)
Wolfgang G. Bühler
1957
Natalia Sergeevna Goncharova (1881 - 1962)
Natalia Sergeevna Goncharova
1881 - 1962
Lauritz Hartz (1903 - 1987)
Lauritz Hartz
1903 - 1987
Armand Schönberger (1885 - 1974)
Armand Schönberger
1885 - 1974
Louis Majorelle (1859 - 1929)
Louis Majorelle
1859 - 1929
Egon Tschirch (1889 - 1948)
Egon Tschirch
1889 - 1948
Viacheslav Stefanovich Garin (1891 - 1957)
Viacheslav Stefanovich Garin
1891 - 1957
Martin Wiegand (1867 - 1961)
Martin Wiegand
1867 - 1961
Emil Maetzel (1877 - 1955)
Emil Maetzel
1877 - 1955